Before my worklife went to shit, I was looking at the earthquake and tsunami pictures. And going to googlemaps to see what it was before. One of the things that stuck with me were all the people with hardhats on. And seawalls/faux-reefs off the coasts of populated areas via googlemaps. It's just...telling that this is a nation prepared as it could possibly be. But this, this was pretty close to worst case. And the losses are horrific, but it is amazing to me that it wasn't so much worse. The worst damage is waterborn, and how in the hell do you stop the ocean?
I'm fairly certain I said no interruptions.
Buffy ,'Potential'
Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
sarameg - Mar 11, 2011 4:17:05 pm PST #27784 of 30001
le nubian - Mar 11, 2011 4:34:38 pm PST #27785 of 30001
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Cass - Mar 11, 2011 4:35:19 pm PST #27786 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.
and how in the hell do you stop the ocean?
You don't. You build things to withstand the quake, you have massive emergency procedures in place and you make sure people know what to do *before*, during and after a quake.
You will never prevent property loss and even the loss of some life. But I think we're seeing a vastly different outcome because this happened where it did.
It was some big pre-quakes, an 8.9 and over 150ish massive aftershocks in less than 24 hours.
I started to imagine it in Southern California and just ... stopped. I couldn't deal with it.
I really need to stop refreshing the USGS page too.
sarameg - Mar 11, 2011 4:47:31 pm PST #27787 of 30001
eta: I saw somewhere they revised to a 9.0. Need to go look again. In the meantime...
Well, yeah. Just sort of marveling at how we can do our best and Japan clearly has, but...nature can win.
I have a wet, demoralized cat. Mister Kitty bath time. It's pathetic. Unlike Devi, who when she fell in the tub got distracted by Floating!Tail! and was fine and having fun until she got out, MK just...gives up. I have him wrapped like a baby in a towel. He's not even trying to fight me. Just gave one mournful yowl when I put him in the sink. So pathetic.
Cass - Mar 11, 2011 4:48:44 pm PST #27788 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.
Oh, poor MK. You will dry, I promise.
sarameg - Mar 11, 2011 4:56:33 pm PST #27789 of 30001
Cass - Mar 11, 2011 5:01:46 pm PST #27790 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.
Oh, unhappy. He doesn't look as thin as I thought though. He looks very displeased though. Well, he'll dry and dry is happier.
sarameg - Mar 11, 2011 5:05:05 pm PST #27791 of 30001
And he's kinda liking the wrapped up and cuddling. Soon, blow dryer! (Uh, he likes it.)
Pix - Mar 11, 2011 5:27:39 pm PST #27792 of 30001
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie
Poor Mister Kitty!
I have 65 comments to write before I fall asleep Sunday night, and we LOSE A FRIGGIN HOUR this weekend. So unfair.
javachik - Mar 11, 2011 5:30:44 pm PST #27793 of 30001
Our wings are not tired.
Pix, I wish you could farm out your work to us!
Cass, yes, to everything you've said about Japan's engineering, preparedness, and infrastructure. Like Julia Sweeney says, "and then God says "ha!"